ASA ACDelco Challenge Series Michigan 300: Report, Results, Standings
11 August 1997
Marne, MI - Rick Beebe drove the St Louis Gear/Royal Machine Pontiac under veteran Mike Eddy in turn 2 with eight laps remaining and then completed the pass as the two cars exited turn three to grab his first career American Speed Association, ACDelco Challenge Series win in the Michigan 300 at Berlin Raceway, Marne, MI. Dave Sensiba took advantage of the hole created by Beebe's move to put the West Michigan Auto Auction/MC Sports Pontiac in second with Eddy finishing third in the GM Goodwrench Service/HRE Pontiac."It hasn't sunk in yet," said Beebe after the race. "The crew worked hard and we had great pit stops. I'm glad to finally win one for these guys. I knew Mike (Eddy) had a strong car at the end, but I think his tires were gone and I wanted to get a run at him without lapped traffic. Eddy was one of my heroes growing up. He raced me clean at the end. This is my biggest thrill in racing to date."
Beebe collected $13,930 for the win and moved up to third place in the points standings behind Kevin Cywinski and Gary St Amant.
At the start of the 300 lap grind, pole sitter Tim Sauter jumped into the lead and was able to hold it until lap 35 when Beebe assumed the point for the first time. Dennis Berry took over the lead on the 91st lap and maintained the position until the leaders all headed for the pits under caution on lap 96. Gary St Amant held the point following the first round of pit stops until Sensiba was able to get around him on lap 116. On lap 137 Eddy took his first turn at setting the pace and continued to lead until lap 213 when Harold Fair took the point.
Fair continued to lead, followed by Brandon Sperling and Joe Bush as they stayed on the track during a caution to maintain track position. Eddy, Scott Hansen, Beebe and Sensiba were slicing through the field and by the 230th lap Eddy had reassumed the point with Fair holding on to second, Hansen in third, Beebe fourth and Sensiba fifth.
The final caution of the race came out on lap 251 when Fred Ricart spun and again the leaders eschewed pit stops to maintain track position. For the next 32 laps Eddy stayed on the point as he weaved his way through lapped traffic. Beebe and Sensiba were able to get around both Hansen and Fair, while from further back in the pack, Mike Miller was making a late race charge and by lap 280 he was up to fourth ahead of Fair.
With eight laps remaining Beebe made his move inside Eddy and Sensiba followed him through to complete the eighth lead change of the race. Beebe's lead at the checkers was .780 seconds with Sensiba second, Eddy third, Miller in fourth and Fair holding on to take fifth. The race was slowed by 8 cautions for a total of 58 laps.
John Kaiser -- The Autochannel
Berlin Raceway - Provisional results for the
ASA ACDelco Challenge Series,
Michigan 300:
Ps.Ql.No. Driver , Car Laps
-- -- ---- ----------------------------------------------------- -----
1 23 Rick Beebe St Louis Gear/Royal Machine PONT 300
2 6 Dave Sensiba Engineered Polymer/W MI Auto AuctPONT 300
3 88 Mike Eddy GM Goodwrench Service/HRE PONT 300
4 18 Mike Miller South East Air Service PONT 300
5 81 Harold Fair Car Quest/ACDelco/Victor Reinz PONT 300
6 48 Joe Nott Valvoline/Allan Nott Toyota/RaabeFORD 300
7 84 Bob Senneker Lane Auto/JR Automation/Mr GasketFORD 300
8 51 Brandon Sperling Sperling Motorsports CHEV 300
9 52 Scott Hansen AFCO Racing Products PONT 300
10 1 Kevin Cywinski Coleman Racing Products PONT 300
11 72 Junior Hanley Skillman Motorsports PONT 300
12 8 Mike Garvey AFCO Racing Products PONT 300
13 55 Tim Sauter (R) Leo M/S/Wehr/Racing Adventures PONT 300
14 33 Brad Loney Bunsaver/Hunter's Spec/Flexsteel PONT 300
15 87 Steve Carlson(R)Baker Enterprises/Clean Burn PONT 300
16 4 Joe Bush West Michigan Chevy Dealers CHEV 300
17 7 Gary St Amant Wynn's/W Michigan Chevy Dealers CHEV 299
18 5 Steve Holzhausen Structural Transport FORD 299
19 32 Ted Smokstad Corp. Auto/SMS Parts PONT 298
20 26 Bill Baird Spee-Dee Pop Popcorn/Saturn Mach CHEV 297
21 15 Dennis Berry Eaglewood PONT 297
22 07 Jack Landis Adirondak/Lyndaker/Maisto/N.YoderFORD 296
23 94 Donnie Varcoe Lakeway/Midwest Bumper CHEV 295
24 11 Doug Mayr(R) No Touch Car Care/Aqua Splash CHEV 295
25 97 Doug Vander LA Spas/Van's Auto/D.J. Racing CHEV 290
26 16 Buddy Schrock 1-800-DEAL-USA FORD 286
27 93 Alec Pinsonneault Build-A-Mold/Trimplas/Moldplas PONT 283
28 80 Harold Fair Jr GCF Motorsports CHEV 132
29 98 Todd Forbes Axle Handler/Ridgeway FORD 86
30 86 Aaron Hough Lee's Inn and Suites PONT 42
31 79 Mike Cofer (R) Black & Decker Versa Pack PONT 32
32 58 Billy Turner Sanifill/Central Fiber PONT 22
(R)= Pat Schauer Memorial Rookie Candidate
Time of Race : 1 hr 51 min 52 sec
Average Speed : 70.477 mph
Margin of Victory : .708 sec
Lap Leaders : Sauter, Beebe, Berry, St Amant, Sensiba, Eddy, H Fair
Cautions : 8 for 58 laps
Track Length : 0.5000 Miles
Pendleton, IN - Top 20 Provisional driver point standings after 12 of 20
events for the 1997 ASA ACDelco Challenge Series.
1. Kevin Cywinski 2124
2. Gary St Amant 1877 (-247)
3. Rick Beebe 1828 (-296)
4. Scott Hansen 1826 (-298)
5. Dave Sensiba 1806 (-318)
6. Mike Miller 1760 (-364)
7. Stave Carlson (R) 1738 (-386)
8. Mike Eddy 1609 (-515)
9. Harold Fair 1602 (-522)
10. Tim Sauter (R) 1590 (-534)
11. Joe Nott 1522 (-602)
12. Bob Senneker 1509 (-615)
13. Brandon Sperling 1489 (-635)
14. Ted Smokstad 1482 (-642)
15. Brad Loney 1412 (-712)
16. Jack Landis 1375 (-749)
17. Junior hanley 1369 (-755)
18. Steve Holzhausen 1348 (-776)
19. Mike Garvey 1337 (-787)
20. Bill Baird 1251 (-873)